Monday, August 19, 2013

2nd Day of 2nd Grade and 200 TpT Follwer GIVEAWAY!

Just a reminder that there are a few hours left of the big back to school sale on TpT! Everything in my store is up to 28% off with promo code BTS13 :)

Today was a really good day with our new 2nd graders! We did a lot of community building and worked on our first craftivity!

First, we read one of my favorite back to school books, Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. After we read the book, we graphed the syllables in our names. We gave each kiddo a sticky note and had them write their names on them. The kids took turns saying their names, and as a class we counted the syllables in each child's name. Then they hung up their sticky note in the appropriate column. This activity also let us review each other's names :)

Due to time, we didn't have the kids make their own graphs, but I do have everything you would need in my Fun With Kevin Henkes & Friends! pack! After we made our class graph, we worked on the cute craftivity to go along with the book {you can find it in Fun With Kevin Henkes & Friends! or in my Back to School MEGA Pack!}! Students had to count the number of letters, consonants, vowels, and syllables in their names. Then they wrote why their name was special. Some of their responses were PRECIOUS!! I am sharing some of my favorites with you :)

I like my name because I'm named after a movie star.

I like my name because I am named after Esther in the Bible.

I like my name because my name sounds good.

I like my name because it is named after Reese's Puffs.

I like my name because I am named after my great grandpa.

I like my name because my name is named after a baseball player's last name.

In the afternoon, we read Have You Filled a Bucket Today? and talked all about bucket filling!! I think this is such an important subject to spend time on because it really helps build an awesome classroom community! After we read and discussed the book, Amy demonstrated how hurtful words or actions can't be taken back, even if we say sorry. She squeezed out some toothpaste each time a child gave an example of bucket dipping. After most of the toothpaste was squeezed out, we called students up to try and put the toothpaste back in tube {using toothpicks}. It was hard to do, and we couldn't put the toothpaste back. I think the kids really got it :)

Then we made two anchor charts; bucket dippers and bucket fillers. Our class decided that we should crumple up the Bucket Dippers chart and throw it away! ﻿

The last thing we did was work on was the Bucket Filling and Bucket Dipping sort that can be found in my Back to School MEGA Pack! The kids did great! I am so excited to start letting the kids fill each other's buckets :)﻿

Tomorrow we are going to start our first day of Daily 5! We use Daily 5 for Dummies to help us pace our lessons :) It is definitely worth it to google it, especially if you are just starting out!! I will post more about that soon!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!! A couple weeks ago, you all helped me get to 200 followers in my TpT Store! THANK YOU!!! :) I can't wait to do the same thing on this little blog of mine :) I promised you a giveaway! The winner will get TWO items! You will get to pick any item in my store {up to $5 value} AND my sweet friend, Amy, is donating your choice of an individual Junie B. Jones novel unit. Take a peek at her units by clicking on the picture! Then enter via Rafflecopter! The giveaway ends on Thursday!